Victim's family convinces governor to spare Hill's life

Jeffrey Hill was set to be executed on March 3 for murdering his mother in Cincinnati. But Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland followed the recommendation of the Adult Parole Board, as he's done with all other death penalty cases during his tenure, and now Hill won't be killed. The parole board voted unanimously to commute Hill's death sentence to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 25 years, and board members went out of their way to detail their unusual reasoning.

Clovernook offers a variety of services for the visually impaired

More than 100 years after William Procter gave Florence and Georgia Trader 36 acres of land and a house in what's now North College Hill, their legacy of caring for those with no or limited sight includes some major achievements, including the third largest Braille printing press in the nation.

Groundbreaking 'RACE' exhibition offers more questions than answers

"One of the most interesting things I find about conversations about race is, if you listen, people are usually starting the conversation from two different places," says Tonya Matthews, the Cincinnati Museum Center's vice president of museums. "As in, they have a different base of information or they have different experiences, but what's funny is that people don't know they’re having the conversation from two different places. I want everyone to come away with some new information that will get us all on the same plane where we can have a conversation."

Local architectural/engineering firm proves LEED Platinum rating can be cost-effective

After winning three local design awards for its space, Emersion Design is celebrating the most important 'win' of them all: platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. And they pulled it off for less money than a standard office space renovation.

Judge applies suburban logic to urban murder

"I disagree with the judge's findings," said Karla Hall of the Ohio Innocence Project. "I strongly disagree, particularly when he categorizes the evidence of Bryant Gaines' guilt as 'overwhelming.' At this point there's not a soul in the universe who would testify that Bryant Gaines had anything to do with the shooting."

Celebrating cultural diversity is the order of the day at the Cincinnati Museum Center Saturday-Monday with the African Culture Fest, part of the Passport to the World series. The three-day event runs through Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and features the “heritage, music, dance, arts and crafts of Africa.” Watch performances by artists from South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Ivory Coast. Explore a replica of an African village with hands-on activities that reflect daily life. And listen to folk tales told by professional storytellers. Also featured is the work of Nigerian artist Dr. Alfred Olusegun Fayemi. Noon-5 p.m.

How to keep your identity from being stolen and used by others

Personal information also is spread all over the place. The video store wants a driver's license number, social security number and credit card number in case you don't return your movies; they say the information is used to track you down so you can be reimbursed. Where are those paper applications stored at the video shop? If they're locked up, who has a key that would allow access? What kind of safeguards are in place to prevent an unscrupulous employee from getting his hands on that information?

Affluent suburbs are no refuge from human trafficking

Five FBI investigations into human trafficking are underway in Greater Cincinnati alone. Despite that, the Ohio Legislature is getting pressure from lawyers not to pass a law that would define modern-day slavery and make it a crime in Ohio.

Advice from an expert on how to un-slump

Forget about the spontaneous moment of lust that scares up the sex-drive ghosts of Christmas Past. It ain't gonna happen in the midst of party planning, shopping, wrapping or hiding gifts, paying credit card bills and every other thing that comes up during the holiday season, according to Patty Brisben.